USC notebook: Clowney a surprise scratch vs. Kentucky

South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney greets fans during the Gamecock Walk before South Carolina played host to Kentucky at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday. Clowney missed the game with bruised ribs.

Published: Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 12:39 a.m.

COLUMBIA — South Carolina star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was listed as a starter on the video board prior to USC’s game against Kentucky Saturday night, but when the team ran through the tunnel for to the strains of “2001,” Clowney had traded out his shoulder pads for street clothes.

South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney greets fans during the Gamecock Walk before South Carolina played host to Kentucky at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday. Clowney missed the game with bruised ribs.

Kim Kim Foster-Tobin/The State

The junior told Carolina coaches just before the game that he could not play because of bruised ribs, catching head coach Steve Spurrier by surprise.

“We were thinking he was going to suit up and play,” Spurrier said. “But he did not practice Thursday, his ribs were bruised. He couldn’t run and said he couldn’t play. Anytime a player says he’s hurt and can’t play, who are we to question it?”

Spurrier went on to say that he is unsure if Clowney will play when the Gamecocks travel to Arkansas next week.

“He may not be able to play next week, I don’t know, but we’re not going to worry about it, I can assure you that,” Spurrier said. “If he wants to play we’ll welcome him to play for the team if he wants to, and if he doesn’t want to play he doesn’t have to.”

PHAROH MAKES AN APPEARANCE: South Carolina’s Pharoh Cooper received extended playing time for the first time in his career.

The true freshman made his first career catch during the second quarter for a gain of 12 yards and took snaps from the wildcat during the second half, rushing for 26 yards.

With Carolina clinging to a 28-21, Cooper took a direct snap and raced 23 yards to the Kentucky 3-yard line to give USC a first-and-goal. Carolina extended its lead to 35-21 two plays later.

Spurrier said Cooper will likely continue to see extended playing time.

“I think he’s a ballplayer. I think his time is coming here,” he said. “There’s a good chance he might be the punt return and kickoff return guy. Look for Pharoh to be more involved in our team.”

SHORT OUTING: Boiling Springs product Dylan Thompson played only one series at quarterback when he took control with 7:38 left in the second quarter with a 21-7 lead. Connor Shaw had led touchdown drives of 77, 80 and 71 yards on the team’s lone other three possessions.

The Gamecocks ran five plays for 12 yards with Thompson completing 1 of 3 passes for 13 yards and losing five on a sack. Spurrier said the Gamecocks entered the game with the idea of giving Thompson some time and disputed that it in any way disrupted Shaw’s successful rhythm.

“The decision was made during the week, not right then,” Spurrier said. “I said about after the third possession we would put Dylan in. We opened the gates (for Kentucky’s pass rush) on him twice and he didn’t have a chance. We messed up a couple of pass protections somehow.”

THIS AND THAT: It was USC’s 14th consecutive home victory, the second-longest streak in school history and currently the nation’s third-longest in Division I. ... The fourth quarter two-point conversion on a catch by Byrnes product Nick Jones was USC’s first successful attempt since 2003 against Alabama-Birmingham. ... Freshman kicker Elliot Fry kicked a career-long 40-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half and then bested it with a 41-yarder in the third quarter. ... USC has scored on its first possession in four of five games this season. ... This marked Spurrier’s 70th-career win during his current tenure. ... Receiver Damiere Byrd had a career-high 98 receiving yards. ... A pair of USC freshmen in defensive end Darius English and freshman linebacker T.J. Holloman both made their first career starts as did junior fullback Connor McLaurin.

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